,_ 16gulx 17S
FOR MEDIA SATURDAY AUGUST 16 1980
ADDRESS TO TASM4ANIAN STATE COUNCIL OF THE
LIBERAL PARTY, DEVONPORT
I welcome the chance to be with you again on this. important
occasion and in this important year. I sense that the spirit
at work here today is one of genuine pride Tasmanian pride
in the-productive partnership that has developed between the
Commonwealth Government and Tasmanians, and pride as Liberals
in what L1iiberalism has achieved for all Australians in the
last five years. And isn't that pride justi. ed?
Five years ago Tasmanians expressed, along with most Australians,
their faith in Liberalism. Now, in Tasmania, as in the rest
of Australia, we are sharing in the successes of that faith.
When have we ever seen such Federal Government support for
Tasmania? When has there been such concern for Tasmanian
initiatives and Tasmania's potential? Has any government
ever done as much?
I am not talking about an election time concern. I am talking
about a continuing, all the year round, commitment. I am
talking about a commitment which is confirmed by the record.
Let us look at the results. one of our first objectives in
government was to increase the freedom of tie States to mazke
their own decisions; to give them the ability to set thieir
own priorities. For Tasmania, the result has been a 92%
increase, since 1975/ 76, in the provision of untied general
revenue funds. Or in real terms, an increase of over
Strong as our commitment is to the States, we have a stronger
commitment to the speci al needs of the smaller States.
Total per capita payments to Tasmania this financial year
will be over $ 1100 compared with $ 662 for Victoria and $ 670
for New South Wales. Our justification for this is straighitforward.
Australia is more than our densely populated capital cities.
Australia is more than mainland Australia. The security,
and the well-being of Australians depends on balanced
development, for all Australia, of all its potential, of
all its capacity. Isn't that the commitment that I made
for the Liberal Party in the Bass by-election? it is
because of this commitment that I agreed with Mr. Lowe
to the importation of a floating dock yesterday.
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It is our belief, as a government, that Tasmania should continUE
to receive from the Commonwealth the support that is necessary
to enable it to participate to the full in Australia's programme
of national. development. That is what led us, soon after we
came to office, to commission Sir Bede Callaghan to enquire
into the structure of industry and employment in Tasmania.
Aplan of action was presented to the Govern.-ment in 1977
and we have acted comprehensively upon it. Our actions
have resulted in financial assistance of over $ 3 million
in special support, grants and loan funds for industrial
development in areas which have a special identification
with Tasmania. Included in this was almost $ 1 million for
six projects under the Commonwealth Regional Development
Programme. You will remember that through this programme,
we offered special support to upgrade the convention facilities
for the Launceston Albert Hall; provided one loan of over
$ 300, 000 for a holdiay village at Stewart's Bay; and another
of over million to M. T. N. Industries at Launceston.
No one-would deny the justification of support for these
projects. But do you know what the Labor Party in Canberra
tried to do? Because the programme was administered a
Tasmanian, Kevin Newman, the Labor Party implied that
the 1oa~ ns should not have gone to Tasmania. What absurdity
is that?
I doubt if Tasmanians will forget Labor's indifference to
small States. This indifference is a matter of public record.
We have a constitution specifically designed to protect the
small States; to give equal representation to the small States
intheSenar-e; to provide that referenda can only be passed by
a majority of people in a majority of States. But what does
the Labor Party want to do? They intend to destroy the powers
of the Senate. They intend to change the constitution to
enable future referenda to be passed by a majority of
the people, not a majority of States. The protection of
the small States would be abandoned. Victoria and
New South Wales alone would be able to alter the constitution.
Where would that place Tasmania then? What voice would
Tasmanians have in the government of Australia?
You can have the vigorous, hard-working Liberal members
that we have now representing Tasmania, but under the
Labor proposal, they could talk and still achieve nothing.
Yet how much have they achieved over the last five years?
Let us not forget that Mr. Batt betrayed this State by
supporting those proposals. And Mr. Hayden supports those
proposals. And Mr. Hawke only recently said that we should
abolish State governments; that, " We must have one government
with unquestioned powers..." At least in wanting more
power, Labor politicians are consistent. How can Doug Lowe
remain a member of that party? My government will have no
part in this. We will havenopart in turning this great
federation of Australian States into a Canberra monopoly.
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A recent decision of great importance to Tasmania was the
agreement by the Government, in April, to relocate the
C. S. I. R. O. Fisheries and oceanography Divrision in Hobart.
This will result'in the construction of a $ 25 million marine
science centre incorporating the C. S. I. R. O. marine science
laboratories. It will involve the building of a multi-purpose
research vessel, to be based in Hobart, at a cost of $ 9 million.
Parallel to this, I opened, earlier this year, the Australian
Maritime College at Launceston. By 1984, it will be providing
facilities for approximately nine hundred people to undertake
courses designed to promote excellence in our maritime industry.
These initiatives will go a long way towards establishing
Tasmania as the maritime centre for Australia. They complement
the decisions already taken to transfer the Antarctic Division
of the Department of Science and Environment to Hobart at
a cost of $ 10 million. And only recently the Convention on
the Corfservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources selected
Hobart as the site for its headquarters. This followed strong support
by the Commonwealth Government and represents further proof
of our active commitment to Tasmania's development.
I welcome the co-operation of the Tasmanian Government in
these matters, for theee decisions will convert Tasmania
into a major maritime and Antarctic research centre for the
Southern hemisphere.
We-have done many other things to help this State. Construction
starts on the second Hobart bridge this year and the Commonwealth
will meet all the costs. The freight equalisation scheme continues
and by the end of this year, the Commonwealth will have
committed $ 120 million to the programme. And every dollar
of this will be of direct benefit to Tasmanian industries.
To further confirm our assistance to Tasmania, the Government
recently gave approval to both domestic airlines to operate
the Hobart/ Christchurch link. This service is expected to
commence in early November.
All of this is but a sketch of a long catalogue of initiatives
that we have taken in support of Tasmania. Can anyone
think of a single initiative of the Labor government?
Of course, we can all remember that time when Mr. Whitlam
promised the people of Georgetown a roof over a swimming
pool that did not exist.
Under Liberalism, Tasmania has ceased to be just an
Outpost. Tasmania has gone international. And having been
part of this development, the Government is determined
to continue its initiatives. We do not need to make
Whitlam-like promises which come to nothing. We have
delivered the goods in Tasmania.
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The runs are on the board. And the message for Tasmanians
* in the decade ahead is: " Let us make it a not-out Liberal.
innings". Of course, the benefits for Tasmania would have been
impossible withiout the successful fight we have waged
against the Labor economic disorder that we inherited. We
took over a bankrupt company, a company in receivership.
And I1 make no apology for the fact that it has been a long7
hard grind in building the strength of the Australian economy
to its present point.
In 1975, inflation reached 17%, disrupting economic stability,
destroying-confidence and crippling investment and economic
growth. What is particularly pleasing is that in spite of
this, we have been able to achieve so much. Of fundamental
importance, many of our industries are competitive again
in world markets; our relative cost structure is back to
the level of the early 701s; private sector employment is
rising; domestic-business confidence is high; and the
confidence of overseas investors in Australia has fully
recovered.
And of continuing importance to all Australians,. our
farms are doing wel~ l again. Lower inflation has greatly
helped; costs have been contained. Government support and
special incentives have helped to bring life and vitality
to Australian farms once more.
These are key achievements and I cannot stress too strongly
the contrast between our strength now and the depressed
economic environment which was overtaking us five years ago.
It is true that there were expectations which we held in 1.975
and : again in 1977 which may not have been fuly achieved. But we
have had little help from overseas events. Indeed, many
overseas events have made the task more difficult. Who would
have envisaged back in 1977 that, this year, inflation would
rise to over 20% in Britain; to nearly 15% in the United States?
Who would have envisaged so little growth in the world economy?
Who would have envisaged interest rates going to 20% in the
United States? And who would have predicted the extent of
further increases in the price of oil, bringing a new bout
of inflation to the whole of the industrialised world?
None of this has been assisted by the number of strikes that
occur, often for frivolous and unreasonable causes. And none
of it has been helped by the extent of the Arbitration
_____ Commission's decisions. All this has meant that there have
been occasions when we have had to adjust our course and
work -all the harder. But we have never sat back and said
that circumstances were too difficult. All along, includinig
the Budget to be introduced next Tuesday night, the Government
has placed responsibility-first-. Because, if we fail at that,
we fail in our obligation to all Austral. ian people. Because
we have had the courage to take the hard line when it was
needed, under our management, the economy has performed
remarkably well, and much better than many of our overseas
competitors. What we have achieved, we have achieved by
ourselves, on our own account.. In that, all Australians
can take a real measure of pride.
Our inflation rate though higher still than we had hoped
is nevertheless well below the O. E. C. D. average. While in the
last 12 months our inf lation rate has increased by less than
in the U. S. it rose by nearly in Japan by over
and, in the U. K. by over 11%.
This relative strength is the reason why the prospects
just ahead of us are bright indeed. Australia in the
. is a different country; a country with different attitudes;
a different view of itself; and with a well founded optimism
for the future.
The faith and confidence we have in ourselves as Australians,
and in Australia as a nation, have been reborn. And this
faith is shared by Tasmanian investors. Firm and prospective
investment in mining, resources and manufacturing in this region
along include: a $ 27 million project by Aberfoyle and Taringo
Mining and Exploration at Que River.
an $ 18 million expansion programme for Renisons near
a $ 13 million project by E. Z. Industries at
Roseberry a $ 50 million programme of A. P. P. M. to convert their
boilers from oil to coal and wood,
a proposed $ 60 million installation by A. P. P. M.
at Wesley Vale next year,
and in manufacturing, Repco are undertaking a $ 5 million expansion
at Launceston, and
Goliath Cement, not far from here at Railton,
are involved in a $ 22 million conversion and
expansion programme.
The results of the Government's policies are best summed up.
in the 1979 annual report of a very significant Tasmanian
firm A. P. P. M. The report argued clearly that the company's
increased profitability was attributable to the more competitive
cost of its product. It went on, significant part of the
credit for this achievement must be given to Federal Government
industrial policy particularly that which is designed to
assist Tasmania. Subsidies paid under the Tasmanian Freight
Equalisation Assistance Scheme, export incentives, research
and development grants... all helped to contain costs...
to keep our sales prices down.., to increase the volume of
sales but the important effect to enable an
increase in machine utilisation which then provided more
jobs and prosperity."
All of this highlights a record of achievement in Tasmania
in which the Government has worked closely with all Tasmanian
members. what projects could anyone name that were standing
ready to go in 1975 at the end of the Labor years: the cupboard
was indeed bare. M Hayden said a year ago that the
would be a decade of despair. Hie said a couple~ of weeks ago / 6-
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that the 80' s would be a dead-end decade. That kind of
pessimism and gloom Irave nio plaice 3kn Australia. They
demonstrate clearly that the Labor Party has no capacity
to offer national leadership; no capacity for national
inspiration.
our achievements in the last five years must be the source
of our inspiration for what we can achieve in the years ahead.
The capacity of Liberalism to harness initiative and
cultivate the creativity of all Australians has been proven,
And because of -this, significant indicators point to accelerating
national recovery. It is on our capacity to secure sustainable
economic growth that we base our claim for goverment in the
801s. For it is only from economic growth that a government
can provide the hospitals, the roads, the schools and the
essential help to those people in the community who, through
no fault of their own, genuinely need our assistance.
It is because of our improved economic health that, as a nation,
we have been able to achieve significant reforms especially
in our assistance to families, to the aged and to the handicapped.
The introduction of the family allowance is a major initiative
redirecting help to mothers, especially those from low
income or pensioner families. It has been a particular
benefit to over 300,000 families with 800,000 children
who had received little or no help under the previous
system. We have also acted to increase help for families
in the taxation area. Since coming to office, we have doubled
the income tax rebate for single income families; while
the sole parent rebate has more than doubled. In the same
time, we have extended the eligibility for the supporting
parent benefit to include supporting fathers. It is the
Government's view that there must be dignity for those who
are old or who suffer from some disadvantage. Nowhere is
our commitment to the aged and the handicapped more in
evidence than in this part of Tasmania. In this financial year in this
area, our commitment to the elderly will result in,
over $ 400,000 for the Melaleuca Homes for the
Aged, here in Devonport,
over $ 400,000 for the Eliza Purdon Home for the
Aged, not far from here,
almost $ 300,000 for the Karingall Home for the
Aged, also here in Devonport,
and, almost $ 50,000 for four self-contained units
at the Port Sorrell Retirement Homes.
It is the Government's belief that handicapped people must
be provided with the opportunities they deserve to develop
their skills, their talents, their self-esteem and their
confidence. In this region alone our commitment to the
handicapped will result in
$ 190,000 for the North West Coast Disabled Citizen
Association for the purchase of a sheltered workshop
in Burnie / 7
7
and two projects, also in Burnie, conducted by the
Multihandicapped Association of Tasmania which will
attract over $ 300,000 in Commonwealth support next
financial year.
And . that is just in this area.
The same commitment is at work throughout Tasmania and the
whole Australian community. It is part of our belief that
Australia as a nation cannot advance unless all members of
the community have the opportunity to share in the benefits
of our growing wealth. But that wealth must first be
generated so that we can improve on the kind of programmes
I have outlined. And that is why the Government is dedicated
to co-ordinated national development. / 8
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What Mr. Hayden and Labor still don't understand is that whatever
the Government spends must first be taken from the people.
Governments have no resources of their own. But that does
not worry the Labor Party. Indeed, Mr. Hayden has argued
that one of his answers to the challenge of the 80' s is to
. spend public money. Mr. Hayden described this spending as,
" the biggest social reform you can carry out iii this country.."
This is one reform to which Mr. Hayden is dedicated.
In about five areas alone, Labor are already commi-tted to
$ 2,000 million additional expenditure, if they
ever won government. In fact, almost unbelievably, Labor has
so far pro,', rosed a total of about 300 separate spending
commitments. This week, as Mr. Hayden added to these spending
commitments, he also promised to control the proliferation of
statutory authorities. But what he did not tell Tasmanians
was ' that his party is committed, by its platform to the
establishment of over 50 new statutory authorities, councils
and c6mmittees. Peter Rae won't like that.
Certainly, Mr. Hayden's notion of restraint is different from ours.
Perhaps it was because of this massive expenditure programme that
Mr. Hayden also said a Labor government would " opt for
long-term economic planning, not on a yearly basis, but looking
three to five years ahead".
We know why he wants a budget every five years, and it has got
nothing to so with long-term economic planning. Recently,
one of the Labor Party's most successful administrators,
the former Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Mr. Clem Jones, said,
" It is recognised, that Bill Hayden has admitted he cannot
read a balance sheet".
That is the reason why he wants a five yearly budget. It gives
him five years to learn what the red and black figures mean.
Predictably, Mr. Hayden did not tell us while he was in
Tasmania where the money was coming from. But we should
remember his warning to us that, " I have committed my
organisation to a capital gains tax, a resources rental
tax, a levy on domestic oil producers,' a number of initiatives
in the tax area and other measures of that nature"
What are these " other measures"? One of his colleagues
gives us some insight. Mr. Willis has said that it is
" wrong" that we do not have ' some form of tax on capital,
be it death duties, capital gains tax, wealth tax, or perhaps
some kind of combination of those, or all three".
Someone remarked the other day, that Mr. Hayden would tax
the patience of a saint, just to keep the support of the
Socialist left. Because, indisputably, Mr. Hayden is a
prisoner of the militant Socialist left of the Labor Party.
And all Australians know that on many occasions, inside
Parliament and out of it, supporters of the Socialist left
have sought to explain away the Soviet Union's aggressive
and expansionist behaviour.
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At a time of almost universal concern about the deteriorating
international strategic situation, brought about by Russian
expansion, the Labor Party have as a leader a man whose support
depends upon the sections in his party who apologise for
Soviet behaviour.
Mr. Hayden's behaviour and his views, on a wide range of
important issues, are out of step with the best interests
of Australians and. their aspirations in the decade ahead.
it is because of this; it is because of Labor's inability
to inspire confidence or trust that our responsibility to
Australia and its future is even greater. Because the good
government of Australia depends entirely on the strength of
Liberalism. It is that proven strength that has enabled us to enter the
with much to be thankful for. But this is not the time to squander
hard won gains. Instead, it is the time to use our energy and
our initiative to build upon our achievements with all the
strength and vigour at our command.
This is the challenge. * I ask you all to join with me in
dedicating yourselves to meet this challenge. I ask you
all to join with me in making Liberalism the driving force
behind all Australians in the next decade and beyond.,
I ask all of you to help us build the security of thisnation;
to help us build a better future for our children;
to help us respond to the great trust that has been placed
in us by the majority of the people of Australia.
This is the most challenging task of all. But it is also
the most rewarding. I have rno doubt that with the organisation.
and support the Tasmanian division of the Liberal Party, our
goals will be met. And I look forward to you all dedicating
yourselves comprehensively to the challenges in the months
ahead and pDursuing them single-mindedly; with energy, commitment
and success.